Fixed combination fluticasone furoate/ umeclidinium/vilanterol in chronic obstructive lung disease treatment
Abstract
Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) is a frequent respiratory disease characterised by progressive airway obstruction and accelerated decline of lung function. Therapy of COPD relies on pharmacological and non- -pharmacological measures with inhaled bronchodilators being the mainstay of pharmacotherapy.
In frequent exacerbators (COPD GOLD D) and in patients with COPD and asthma overlap (so called ACOS) also inhaled corticosteroids are indicated. An ongoing option in the COPD treatment is the fixed triple combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting inhaled bronchodilators, fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI), which is now in the late stages of clinical investigation.
Results of the ongoing FULFIL trial have shown statistically significantly higher efficacy of the once daily administered fixed triple combination of FF/UMEC/VI compared to the twice daily administered fixed combination of budesonide/ formoterol in terms of lung function as well as quality of life; the safety and tolerability were similar in both types of therapy. The ongoing IMPACT trial will assess the impact of the fixed triple combination of FF/UMEC/VI on the annual rate of COPD exacerbations.